Electronic component mounting apparatus

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to an unfailing pickup operation of an electronic component from a component storage portion at a seam of storage tapes connected even using a connection tape and prevention of reduction in a pickup rate of an electronic component. A CPU sends a feeding command to a component feeding unit to perform a component feeding operation or the like. Then, when the CPU judges that a connection tape reaches a pickup position, the CPU drives an X axis drive motor and a Y axis drive motor to move a board recognition camera to the pickup position of the feeding unit, the camera takes an image of a storage portion of a storage tape, and a recognition processing device performs recognition processing. A correction value based on a result of this recognition processing is stored in a RAM, and a suction nozzle is moved taking this correction value into account and lowers to pick up an electronic component.

CROSS-REFERENCE OF THE INVENTION

This application is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 11/605,471, filed Nov.29, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. ______, which is based on Japanese PatentApplication No. 2005-345114, filed Nov. 30, 2005, the contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an electronic component mounting apparatushaving a plurality of component feeding units aligned on a feeder base,the component feeding unit feeding an electronic component stored in astorage tape to a component pickup position, in which a suction nozzlepicks the electronic component fed by the component feeding unit andmounts the electronic component on a printed board.

2. Description of the Related Art

In this kind of electronic component mounting apparatus, particularly ina high-speed gantry-type mounting device, since the component feedingunits are fixed and not moved, there are rapidly increasing usersemploying the so-called splicing where storage tapes are connected toeach other for supplying the components during automatic driving. Amethod of connecting storage tapes to each other is disclosed in theJapanese patent application publication No. hei 5-338618 and so on, forexample, and a technology of facilitating the connection work isproposed.

However, in a case where the storage tapes are connected to each otherwith a connection tape when a shortage of electronic components occurs,the storage tapes at a connection portion with the connection tape,i.e., the storage tapes at a seam where the connection tape is attachedare shifted due to the attached connection tape. Therefore, positions ofa component storage portion and an electronic component stored thereinare shifted relative to a position where the suction nozzle lowers topick up the electronic component at the component feeding unit, therebycausing an error in picking a component and reduction in a pickup rate.

The invention is directed to an unfailing pickup operation of anelectronic component from a component storage portion to preventreduction in a pickup rate of electronic components even in the abovecase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an electronic component mounting apparatusincluding: a feeder base; a component feeding unit disposed on thefeeder base and feeding electronic components stored in a storage tapeso that each of the electronic components is advanced to a componentpickup position where a suction nozzle is configured to pick up theelectronic component fed by the component feeding unit for mounting theelectronic component on a printed board; a seam detection deviceprovided for the component feeding unit and detecting a seam connectingtwo storage tapes; a recognition camera taking an image of a storageportion of the storage tape storing the electronic components when theseam is detected; a recognition processing device performing arecognition processing to the image taken by the recognition camera; anda control device adjusting the component pickup position based on aresult of the recognition processing of the recognition processingdevice.

The invention also provides an electronic component mounting apparatusincluding: a feeder base; a component feeding unit disposed on thefeeder base and feeding electronic components stored in a storage tapeso that each of the electronic components is advanced to a componentpickup position where a suction nozzle is configured to pick up theelectronic component fed by the component feeding unit for mounting theelectronic component on a printed board; a seam detection deviceprovided for the component feeding unit and detecting a connection tapeconnecting two storage tapes; a counter counting the feeding of theelectronic components to the component pickup position after the seamdetection device detects the connection tape; a recognition camerataking an image of a storage portion of the storage tape storing theelectronic components the component feeding unit handle when a countnumber of the counter reaches a first predetermined number that isneeded until the connection tape reaches the component pickup positionfrom a time when the connection tape is detected by the seam detectiondevice and thereafter each time when the count number of the counterreaches a second predetermined number; a recognition processing deviceperforming a recognition processing to the image taken by therecognition camera; and a control device adjusting the component pickupposition based on a result of the recognition processing of therecognition processing device.

The invention achieves an unfailing pickup operation of an electroniccomponent from a component storage portion at a connection portion,i.e., at a seam of storage tapes connected even using a connection tape,and prevention of reduction in a pickup rate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an electronic component mounting apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a component feeding unit fixed on a feederbase.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a cover tape peeling systemof FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view from an arrow X in FIG. 2, showing a relation of thecomponent feeding unit and the feeder base.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 in a position of a frontleft-to-right control pin, showing the relation of the component feedingunit and the feeder base.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a seam detection device.

FIG. 7 is a view of the seam detection device from an arrow in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of storage tapes connected to each other with aconnection tape.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the storage tapes connected to each other withthe connection tape.

FIG. 10 is a control block diagram.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An electronic component mounting apparatus having an electroniccomponent feeding device and an electronic component mounting apparatusbody will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Thiselectronic component mounting apparatus is a so-called multifunctionalchip mounter, which can mount a variety of electronic components on aprinted board P.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the electronic component mounting apparatus. Anelectronic component mounting apparatus body 1 includes a base 2, aconveyer portion 3 extending in a lateral direction in a center of thebase 2, and two component mounting portions 4 and two component feedingportions 5 each provided on the front (on a lower side of FIG. 1) andthe rear (on an upper side of FIG. 1) of the base 2. Each of thecomponent feeding portions 5 is detachably set with a plurality ofcomponent feeding units 6 as the electronic component feeding device,thereby forming the electronic component mounting apparatus.

The conveyer portion 3 includes a central set table 8, a left feedingconveyer 9, and a right discharging conveyer 10. The printed board P issupplied from the feeding conveyer 9 to the set table 8, and is fixed ata predetermined height so as to be mounted with electronic components.After completing the electronic component mounting, the printed board Pis discharged from the set table 8 to a downstream device through thedischarging conveyer 10.

Each of the component mounting portions 4 is provided with an XY stage(beam) 12 movably mounted with a head unit 13, a component recognitioncamera 14, and a nozzle stocker 15. The head unit 13 is mounted with twomounting heads 16 for picking up and mounting the electronic components,and a board recognition camera 17 for recognizing the position of theprinted board P. Normally, the XY stages 12 of both the componentmounting portions 4 are alternately driven.

In each of the XY stages 12, a beam 12A moves in a Y direction driven bya Y axis drive motor 12Y, and the head unit 13 moves in an X directiondriven by an X axis drive motor 12X. Therefore, the head unit 13 movesin the X and Y directions.

In each of the component feeding portions 5, many component feedingunits 6 are laterally and detachably aligned on a feeder base 19. Eachof the component feeding units 6 is provided with a storage tape Cstoring many electronic components in storage portions Cc aligned atpredetermined pitches, which will be described below. By intermittentlyfeeding the storage tape C, the electronic components are fed one by onefrom an end of the component feeding unit 6 to the component mountingportion 4.

This electronic component mounting apparatus body 1 is driven based onmounting data stored in a storage portion thereof. First, the XY stage12 is driven, the head unit 13 moves to the component feeding unit 6,and then a suction nozzle 18 of the mounting head 16 is lowered to picka required electronic component up. Then, the mounting head 16 rises up,and the XY stage 12 is driven to move the electronic component to aposition right above the component recognition camera 14. The componentrecognition camera 14 recognizes a posture and a position of theelectronic component on the suction nozzle 18. Next, the mounting head16 moves to above the printed board P on the set table 8, and the boardrecognition camera 17 recognizes a position of the printed board P.Then, an X axis drive motor 12X and a Y axis drive motor 12Y of the XYstage 12, and a θ axis drive motor 18A of the suction nozzle 18 aremoved by a corrected amount based on a recognition result of thecomponent recognition camera 14 and the board recognition camera 17, andthen the electronic component is mounted on the printed board P.

Next, the component feeding unit 6 will be described based on FIGS. 2and 3. The component feeding unit 6 includes a unit frame 21, a storagetape reel (not shown) rotatably mounted on the unit frame 21, a tapefeeding system 22 for intermittently feeding the storage tape C let outfrom the storage tape reel reeled with the storage tape C to a positionwhere the electronic component is picked up by the suction nozzle 18,and a cover tape peeling system 20 for peeling a cover tape Ca from thestorage tape C just before the pickup position.

The storage tape C let out from the storage tape reel is fed to thepickup position under a suppressor 23 which is provided just before thepickup position in a tape route. This suppressor 23 is formed with anopening for picking. The suppressor 23 is also formed with a slit. Thecover tape Ca of the storage tape C is peeled off at this slit, andstored in a storage portion (storage concave portion) 26. That is, theelectronic component stored in the storage tape C is fed to a positionto the opening for picking, with the cover tape Ca being peeled off, andpicked up by the suction nozzle 18.

Next, the tape feeding system 22 will be explained referring to FIG. 2.The tape feeding system 22 includes a servomotor 28 which is providedwith a gear 27 at its output axis and serves as a drive source which canrotate forward and backward, a rotation axis 33 rotatably supported by asupporting body 31 through a bearing 32 and provided with a gear 30 atits end where a timing belt 29 is stretched from the gear 27, and asprocket 36 provided with a worm wheel 35 engaged with a worm gear 34provided in a center of the rotation axis 33 and also engaged with feedholes Cb formed in the storage tape C to feed the storage tape C. Thesupport axis 37 of the worm wheel 35 and the sprocket 36 penetrates anintermediate partition body of a unit frame 21.

Therefore, when the servomotor 28 is driven to rotate forward in orderto feed an electronic component stored in the storage tape C in thecomponent feeding unit 6, the gear 27 and the gear 30 rotate through thetiming belt 29 to rotate the rotation axis 33 only, and the sprocket 36intermittently rotates by a predetermined angle in a forward directionthrough the worm gear 34 and the worm wheel 35 to intermittently feedthe storage tape C with the feed holes Cb.

Next, the cover tape peeling system 20 will be described. The cover tapepeeling system 20 includes a drive motor 42, a first rotating body 46, asecond rotating body 50, a third rotating body 56, a roller 57, and atension applying body 62. The drive motor 42 is provided with a wormgear 41 at its output axis. The first rotating body 46 is provided witha gear 43 engaged with a gear 45 and the gear 41 therearound, and isrotatably supported by a supporting body 44 through a support axis 46A,the supporting body 44 being fixed on the unit frame 21. The secondrotating body 50 is provided with a gear 47 engaged with a contactportion 51 and the gear 45 therearound, and is rotatably supported by asupporting body 49 through a support axis 50A, the supporting body 49being fixed on the unit frame 21 through an attachment body 48. Thethird rotating body 56 is provided with a contact portion 52 contactingwith the contact portion 51 being pushed by a spring 55 therearound, andis rotatably supported by an attachment body 54 through a support axis56A, the attachment body 54 being fixed on the unit frame 21 androtatable through a support axis 53. The roller 57 is provided forguiding the cover tape Ca. The tension applying body 62 is provided withthe roller 60 for guiding the cover tape Ca guided by the roller 57 onan end of an attachment body 59, the attachment body 59 being fixed onthe unit frame 21 and rotatable around a support axis 58, and appliestension to the cover tape Ca being pushed by a spring 61. A numeral 63designates a stopper for limiting rotation of the attachment body 59there.

When the cover tape Ca is peeled off, the drive motor 42 is driven torotate the first rotating body 46 through the gears 41 and 43. By therotation of the first rotating body 46, the second rotating body 50rotates through the gears 45 and 47. By rotation of the second rotatingbody 50, the third rotating body 56 rotates with the cover tape Ca beinginterposed between the contact portions 52 and 51 pushed by the spring55. Then, the cover tape Ca is peeled from the storage tape C by a pitchat the slit of the suppressor 23 without generating the slack, and isstored in a storage portion 26 provided in an end of the componentfeeding unit 6.

The suppressor 23 forms an almost L shape in its cross-section by avertical piece as a support portion and a horizontal piece pressing thestorage tape C of which the feed holes Cb are engaged with the gearteeth of the sprocket 36 for preventing disengagement of the tape C. Thevertical piece is supported by the unit frame 21, being rotatable aroundthe support axis as a fulcrum in its rear end portion inside the unitframe 21, and the horizontal piece has a vertical hook piece in itsfront end portion, the vertical hook piece having hook holes which canbe hooked on a hook body (not shown) applied with pressure by a springin a hooking direction.

The component feeding unit 6 is so formed that the storage tape C can beset on the component feeding unit 6 through the opening for setting 65connected to a tape route 64 formed from the side of the componentfeeding unit 6 to the unit frame 21 with the suppressor 23 rotatedupward, which serves as a peeling point of the cover tape Ca of thestorage tape C. A numeral 66 designates a prevention member forpreventing the storage tape C set in the component feeding unit 6 fromseparating from the opening for setting 65, which is provided to thetape route 64 near its rear end portion, in an intermediate portion ofits horizontal portion, near an upper end portion of its slope portion,in a boundary portion between the horizontal portion and the slopeportion, and so on (see FIG. 2).

A numeral 68 designates a label attached to a rear side of a handle 77of the component feeding unit 6, where a barcode indicating a serialnumber of the component feeding unit 6 is written. Thus, even when theplurality of component feeding units 6 is set aligned close to eachother on the electronic component mounting apparatus body 1, thebarcodes can be read out by a barcode scanner (not shown).

The structure of the component feeding units 6 which are detachably setaligned on the feeder base 19 will be described. First, a pair ofguiding members 70 guiding each of the component feeding units 6 andhaving parallel sides 70A is provided on an upper surface of the feederbase 19 by a plurality of attachment pins 101, and a guided member 71having a U-shape in its cross-section is provided on a bottom side ofthe component feeding unit 6, having concave portions 71A on its outersides where the pair of the guiding members 70 are fit to guide theguided member 71, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5. The front end portionsof the pair of guiding members 70 slopes upward, and are formed withsides 70B facing but increasing in these interval toward the front side.

Although the pair of guiding members 70 is provided for the componentfeeding unit 6, these guiding members 70 are also used as the guidingmembers 70 for the adjacent component feeding units 6 since theplurality of component feeding units 6 is set aligned.

A front-to-rear control member 72 is provided, which controls theposition of the component feeding unit 6 in a front-to-rear direction bymaking the guided member 71 reach the end portion of the feeder base 19in its depth side when the guided member 71 is moved for mounting thecomponent feeding unit 6, being guided by the pair of guiding members 70and sliding on the feeder base 19.

A cylindrical rear left-to-right control pin 73 is provided on thefeeder base 19 between the sides 70A of the guiding members 70 in itsfront portion, being engaged with a control groove 71B of the guidedmember 71 to control the position of the component feeding unit 6 in theleft-to-right direction. Furthermore, a cylindrical front left-to-rightcontrol pin 74 is provided in a position near the front-to-rear controlmember 72 where the guiding member 70 is not provided, being engagedwith the control groove 71B of the guided member 71 to control theposition of the unit 6 in the left-to-right direction.

Since the control groove 71B of the guided member 71 is to control theposition of the component feeding unit 6 in the left-to-right directionby being engaged with the front left-and-right control pin 74 having alarger diameter than that of the rear left-to-right control pin 73, thecontrol groove 71B is formed to have almost the same width as thediameter of the front left-to-right control pin 74 in the position wherethe front left-to-right control pin 74 is engaged and to have almost thesame width as the diameter of the rear left-to-right control pin 73 inthe position where the rear left-to-right control pin 73 is engaged, inorder to control the position of the unit 6 in the left-to-rightdirection when the component feeding unit 6 is fixed to the feeder base19.

The handle 77 and a lock release lever 79 which is rotatable around asupport axis 78 as a fulcrum are formed in the rear portion of thecomponent feeding unit 6. A lock release member 81 having a contactportion 81A and supported rotatably around a support axis 80 as afulcrum and the lock release lever 79 are connected to each otherthrough a connection plate 84 which is rotatably supported by supportaxes 82 and 83. Although the lock release member 81 is pulled by aspring 85 so as to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, the rotationin the counterclockwise direction is controlled by a control pin 86.

A coil spring 90 is stretched between an attachment member 87 of thefeeder base 19 and a hook member 89 which is rotatable around a supportaxis 88 as a fulcrum, and applies pressure to the hook member 89 so asto rotate the member 89 in the clockwise direction, the hook member 89having a first hook member 89A which can be hooked on the first lockmember 92 provided on the component feeding unit 6. The first lockmember 92 includes a roller 92A and a support member 92B provided withthe roller 92A. The lock release lever 79, the lock release member 81,the connection plate 84, and so on form a release device releasinghooking of the first hook member 89A of the hook member 89 from theroller 92A of the first lock member 92.

When the component feeding unit 6 is to be mounted on the feeder base19, an operator holds the handle 77 and moves the component feeding unit6 in the depth direction with the guided member 71 guided by the guidingmember 70, and the roller 92A is hooked on the first hook member 89Aafter the roller 92A is in contact with the guide portion 89C of thehook member 89 provided on the electronic component mounting apparatusbody 1 and the hook member 89 is being rotated in the counterclockwisedirection.

A numeral 93 designates a lock cylinder forming an activating memberprovided on the electronic component mounting apparatus body 1, and oneend portion of a second lock member 95 which is rotatable around asupport axis 94 as a fulcrum is in contact with a rod 93A of the lockcylinder 93, being applied with pressure by a spring 96. When the lockcylinder 93 is activated and its rod 93A extends, the second lock member95 provided on the electronic component mounting apparatus body 1 isrotated in the counterclockwise direction, and a lock lever 95A onanother end of the second lock member 95 becomes in contact with asecond hook member 89B of the hook member 89, thereby limiting therotation of the hook member 89 in the counterclockwise direction.

Although the hook member 89 is provided for each of the componentfeeding units 6, the lock cylinder 93 and the second lock member 95 areprovided for the plurality of the component feeding units 6. Therefore,the lock lever 95A is extended in the alignment direction of thecomponent feeding units 6.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, a numeral 102 designates a seam detection device forthe storage tape C, which is provided on an attachment member 103attached to the rear end portion of the component feeding unit 6. Thisseam detection device 102 includes a device body 104 provided with alight emissive element 102A and a light receiving element 102B at aninterval of 8 mm, and a route formation body 107 having a prism 105 onits upper end portion, a U-shape in its cross-section, and a tape routeopening portion 106 in its middle portion so that the storage tape C canpass therethrough.

That is, in the feeding operation of the storage tape C, the storagetape C without a seam can be detected as having no seam by the seamdetection device 102 since light from the light emissive element 102A isreflected by the prism 105 and returned therefrom through feed holes(formed at intervals of 4 mm) Cb and received by the light receivingelement 102B. The storage tape C with the seam is detected as having aseam since light from the emissive element 102A is blocked by theconnection tape 108A covering the feed holes Cb and not received by thelight receiving element 102B in the feeding operation (see FIGS. 8 and9).

It is noted that the connection tape 108A connects an old storage tape Cwhere the number of electronic components is reduced and a new storagetape C, with the connection tapes 108B and 108C, and a portion where theconnection tape 108A is attached is a seam.

Next, a control block diagram of the electronic component mountingapparatus of this embodiment shown in FIG. 10 will be described. Anumeral 110 designates a CPU as a control portion for controlling theoperation of mounting the electronic component of the electroniccomponent mounting apparatus, a numeral 111 designates a RAM (randomaccess memory) as a memory device, and a numeral 112 designates aROM(read only memory).

The RAM 111 is stored with mounting data for each of types of theprinted board P, which include values in the X and Y directions and anangle on the printed board, alignment numbers of the component feedingunits 6, and so on in order of component mounting (in order of stepnumber). The RAM 111 is also stored with component disposition datawhich include types of the electronic components (component ID)corresponding to the alignment numbers (lane numbers) of the componentfeeding units 6. The RAM 111 is further stored with an interval and thenumber of times for recognizing the storage portion (a storage concaveportion) when the seam is detected, that will be described below, foreach of types of the electronic components. The RAM 111 is furtherstored with component library data including items indicating featuresof the electronic component in each of ID.

Then, the CPU 110 controls a component mounting operation of theelectronic component mounting apparatus based on data stored in the RAM111 and according to a program stored in the ROM 112. That is, the CPU110 controls driving of the X axis drive motor 12X, the Y axis drivemotor 12Y, the θ axis motor 18A, and the vertical axis motor 16Avertically moving the mounting head 16 respectively through the drivecircuit 113, the drive circuit 114, the drive circuit 115, and the drivecircuit 116.

A numeral 117 designates a recognition processing device connected withthe CPU 110 through an interface 118. The recognition processing device117 performs recognition processing to images taken and stored by thecomponent recognition camera 14 or the board recognition camera 17, andsends a recognition result to the CPU 110. That is, the CPU 110 outputsa command to perform recognition processing (e.g. calculation of ashifting amount of an electronic component from a proper position) toimages taken and stored by the component recognition camera 14 or theboard recognition camera 17 to the recognition processing device 117,and receives a recognition processing result from the recognitionprocessing device 117.

That is, when the recognition processing device 117 performs recognitionprocessing and recognizes a shifting amount from a proper position, thisrecognition result is sent to the CPU 110. Then, the CPU 110 control theapparatus body 1 to move the X axis drive motor 12X and the Y axis drivemotor 12Y of the XY stage 12, and the θ axis motor 18A of the suctionnozzle 18 by a corrected amount and mount the electronic component onthe printed board P.

Various touch panel switches 119B as input means for data setting areprovided on a monitor 119A as a display device, and an operator can makevarious settings by operating the touch panel switches 119B. Set data isstored in the RAM 111. A numeral 109A designates a counter provided foreach of the component feeding units 6, and counts the number of timesthe storage tape C is fed from the time when the seam detection device102 first detects the connection tape 108A (the seam) (the number oftimes the CPU 110 sends a feeding command). The number of times the tapeC is fed until the first electronic component, i.e., the most upstreamelectronic component stored at the seam reaches the electronic componentpickup position from the time when this seam is detected by the seamdetection device 102 is N. N is calcurated by dividing a distance offeeding the storage tape C from a position where the seam is detected bythe seam detection device 102 to the electronic component pickupposition by a tape feeding pitch (i.e., one feeding distance of a tapeor an interval of the component storage portions Cc). A numeral 109Bdesignates a counter provided for each of the component feeding units 6and counting the number of times a pickup error occurs. It is detectedthat the suction nozzle 18 holds an electronic component or noelectronic component by a line sensor 109C provided on the mounting head16 or the component recognition process, and the counter 109B counts thenumber of sequential times the suction nozzle 18 is detected as holdingno component or holding the component improperly. It is noted that FIG.10 shows only each one of the counters 109A and 109B for conveniencealthough the counters 109A and 109B are provided for each of thecomponent feeding units 6.

A numeral 130 designates a connector connected to the CPU 110 throughthe interface 118. The connector 130 includes each electronic componentmounting apparatus side connector 130A and each component feeding unitside connector 130B which is detachably attached to the connector 130A,and the component feeding unit side connector 130B is connected to theservomotor 28 and the drive motor 42 through a drive circuit 131. It isnoted that FIG. 10 shows only each one of the connectors 130, the drivecircuits 131, the servomotors 28, and the drive motors 42 forconvenience although those are provided for each of the componentfeeding units 6.

Next, an operation of picking and mounting the electronic component willbe described. First, the CPU 110 sends a command to the componentfeeding unit 6 which feeds an electronic component belonging to thefirst step number of the mounting order in the mounting data (data onthe position, posture, or types of the component to be mounted on aprinted board), and drives the servomotor 28 and the drive motor 42 ofthe component feeding unit 6 to perform the component feeding operationand the peeling operation of the cover tape Ca.

Then, the CPU 110 judges whether or not the component feeding unit 6 isdismounted from the feeder base 19 and mounted back thereon, whateverthe cause is.

In detail, when an operator operates an operating portion (not shown) ofthe electronic component mounting apparatus first, the CPU 110 activatesthe lock cylinder 93 to draw the rod 93A, rotates the second lock member95 around the support axis 94 as a fulcrum in the clockwise direction.Then, the lock lever 95A at another end portion of this second lockmember 95 is separated from the second hook portion 89B of the hookmember 89 to provide a state where this hook member 89 can rotate in thecounterclockwise direction. Thus, when the operator puts, for example, athumb on the rotatable lock release lever 79, puts the other fingersinside the handle 77, and draws the lever 79 by the thumb, the lockrelease lever 79 rotates around the support axis 78 as a fulcrum in theclockwise direction, the lock release member 81 rotates in the clockwisedirection, the contact portion 81A pushes up the guide portion 89C ofthe hook member 89 against the pressure of the coil spring 90, the hookmember 89 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, and the roller92A is separated from the first hook portion 89A (unhooked). Therefore,the operator draws the component feeding unit 6 toward the operator withholding the handle 77, and the guided member 71 is moved toward theoperator, being guided by the guiding member 70, thereby separating thecomponent feeding unit 6 from the feeder base 19. Then, the operatormoves the component feeding unit 6 in the depth direction with holdingthe handle 77 while the guided member 71 is guided by the guiding member70, and can mount the component feeding unit 6 on the feeder base 19.

At this time, it is necessary to disconnect the electronic componentmounting apparatus side connector 130A from the component feeding unitside connector 130B when the component feeding unit 6 is dismounted fromthe feeder base 19, and to connect the electronic component mountingapparatus side connector 130A and the component feeding unit sideconnector 130B when the component feeding unit 6 is mounted back on thefeeder base 19. Since the CPU 110 always monitors the component feedingunit 6, the CPU 110 can judge that the component feeding unit 6 isdismounted from the feeder base 19 and mounted back thereon, accordingto a signal inputted from the component feeding unit 6 through theinterface 118.

When the CPU 110 judges that the unit 6 is dismounted and mounted back,the CPU 110 moves the board recognition camera 17 to the pickup positionof the component feeding unit 6 which is dismounted and mounted back bydriving the X axis drive motor 12X and the Y axis drive motor 12Y, thecamera 17 takes an image of the storage portion Cc of the storage tapeC, and the recognition processing device 117 performs recognitionprocessing to the image. When this recognition processing is performed,since the size data of the storage portion Cc forming a rectangle in itsplanar view is stored in the RAM 111, the processing device 117 canrecognize either one of the edge of the storage portion Cc and the edgeof the electronic component if the electronic component is stored in thestorage portion Cc, which has the nearest size to the size data, to bethat of the component storage portion Cc. Therefore, the storage portionCc and the electronic component stored in the storage portion Cc can bediscriminated from each other.

Then, based on a result of the recognition processing, a correctionvalue is stored in the RAM 111, and the X axis drive motor 12X and the Yaxis drive motor 12Y are driven taking this correction value intoaccount, then the vertical axis drive motor 16A is driven, and thesuction nozzle 18 lowers and picks the electronic component by suction.

In a case where it is judged that the component feeding unit 6 is notdismounted from the feeder base 19 and mounted back thereon when it ischecked whether or not the component feeding unit 6 is dismounted fromthe feeder base 19 and mounted back thereon, the CPU 110 judges whetheror not the count number of the counter 109A, which is the number oftimes a feeding command is sent, reaches N after the detection device102 detects the seam of the storage tape C.

Hereafter, description will be given on an operation of picking up anelectronic component, particularly, the operation when the seam isdetected by the seam detection device 102 based on a flow chart of FIG.11.

When the seam detection device 102 detects the seam portion of the tape,which corresponds to the connection tape 108 in this embodiment, the CPU110 counts the number of the advancements of the feeding tape until thecount reaches a predetermined number N. This number N is determined sothat after “N” advancements of the tape the electronic component in thestorage portion Cc corresponding to the leading edge of the connectiontap 108 comes to the electronic component pickup position. It ispreferable that this number is a little larger than the required numberso that the storage portions Cc corresponding to the leading side of theconnection tape 108 (storage portions Cc in the tape on the left shownin FIG. 8) come to the pickup position. In a case where the count valuereaches N, as described above, the CPU 110 judges that the seam portionreaches the pickup position, drives the X axis drive motor 12X and the Yaxis drive motor 12Y and to move the head unit 13 to the pickup positionof the feeding unit 6 and the board recognition camera 17 to above thestorage portion Cc of the storage tape C (a pocket recognition position)to take an image of the storage portion Cc, performs recognitionprocessing (performs pocket recognition), calculates a shifting amountof a center position of this storage portion Cc from a previously setcenter position, moves the suction nozzle 18 by correction based on theshifting amount, i.e., drives the X axis drive motor 12X and the Y axisdrive motor 12Y and then drives the vertical movement axis drive motor16A, and then the component pickup operation is performed. Thecalculated shifting amount (a correction value) is stored in the RAM111. When the next electronic component is to be picked up, too, thesuction nozzle 18 is moved by correction based on the shifting amountand picks up the electronic component, and after the componentrecognition processing the picked electronic component is mounted in apredetermined position of a board.

The feeding of the connection tape 108A and the pickup and mountingoperation of the electronic component are then repeatedly continued.While the connection tape 108A (the seam portion) is lying in the pickupposition, each time when the connection tape 108 is fed thepredetermined number of times (e.g. each time when the tape 108 is fedthree times or once for each three storage portions Cc), i.e., at theintervals for recognition stored in the RAM 111, the board recognitioncamera 17 moves to above a storage portion Cc of the storage tape C (thepocket recognition position) and takes an image of the storage portionCc, the recognition processing (the pocket recognition) is performed, ashifting amount of a center position of this storage portion Cc from thepreviously set center position is calculated, and the suction nozzle 18is moved by correction based on the shifting amount (the correctionvalue), before the component pickup operation is performed. Thecalculated shifting amount (the correction value) is then stored in theRAM 111.

In this manner, the component pickup operation is performed after thestorage portion Cc is recognized and the suction nozzle 18 is moved bycorrection based on the calculated shifting amount each time when theconnection tape 108A, i.e., the seam portion is fed the predeterminednumber of times while the connection tape 108A is lying in the pickupposition. Therefore, even when the connection tape 108A is lying in thepickup position and when the storage tape C is shifted and thus thestorage portion Cc is shifted from a predetermined position due to theconnection tape 108A, an electronic component can be picked up by thesuction nozzle 18 without fail and a pickup error of an electroniccomponent is prevented, thereby retaining a pickup rate even when thestorage tapes C are connected to each other.

Furthermore, the recognition processing of the storage portion Cc whilethe connection tape 108A is lying in the pickup position is preferablyperformed not each time when the connection tape 108A is fed but eachtime when it is fed the predetermined number of times, i.e., each timewhen a predetermined number of components is fed to the pickup position,thereby minimizing reduction of a component feeding speed or a pickupspeed. Note that this predetermined number is generally a numberdifferent from the predetermined number N described above.

While the connection tape 108A (the seam portion) is lying in the pickupposition and the storage tape C is being fed, the recognition processingof the storage portion Cc is performed the predetermined number of timespreviously stored in the RAM 111, as described above. In detail, whenthe length of the connection tape 108A is, for example, 60 mm, theinterval (pitch) of the storage portions Cc is 2 mm (i.e., one feedingdistance of the storage tape C is 2 mm), there are 60÷2=30 pieces ofstorage portions Cc at the connection tape 108A (the seam portion), andthe interval for recognition is three storage portions Cc (each timewhen the storage tape C is fed three times), the recognition processingis performed 30÷3=10 times, and after each of these processings theshifting amount of the center position of the storage portion Cc fromthe previously set center position is calculated, the suction nozzle 18is moved by correction based on the calculated shifting amount, and thecomponent pickup operation is performed. The length of the connectiontape 108A, the interval (pitch) of the storage portions Cc, and theinterval for recognition are previously set in the RAM 111 by theoperation of the touch panel switch 119B by an operator. The number ofthe storage portions Cc at the connection tape 108A and the number oftimes for performing the recognition processings are calculated by theCPU 110 and stored in the RAM 111.

While the connection tape 108A is fed and the recognition processing isperformed in the above described manner, when the storage tape C is fedN times from the time when the seam detection device 102 misses the seamportion, i.e., from the time when the connection tape 108A passes theseam detection device 102, the CPU 110 judges that the connection tape108A, i.e., the seam portion passes the pickup position and the storagetape C following the connection tape 108A (the storage tape on the rightside of the connection tape 108A in FIG. 8) reaches the pickup position.Then, the described recognition processing is performed to a storageportion Cc once, for example, a shifting amount of a center position ofthis storage portion Cc from the previously set center position iscalculated, the suction nozzle 18 is moved by correction based on theshifting amount, and then the component pickup operation is performed.The calculated shifting amount is then stored in the RAM 111, and ineach of the subsequent pickup operations the suction nozzle 18 is movedbased on the stored shifting amount and picks up the electroniccomponent from the storage portion Cc. Therefore, even when the storagetape C following the connection tape 108A is shifted due to theconnection tape 108A, the suction nozzle 18 picks up an electroniccomponent from the storage portion Cc without fail.

It is possible that the CPU 110 judges that the first storage portion Ccin the storage tape C following the connection tape 108A (the storagetape on the right side of the connection tape 108A in FIG. 8) reachesthe pickup position when the feeding operation is performed N times fromthe time when the seam detection device 102 detects the connection tape108A and the connection tape 108A is further fed predetermined times (30times) that is needed for passing the pickup position.

In a case where the count value of the counter 109A does not reach N,however, the number of sequential times a suction error occurs iscounted by the counter 109B, and when the CPU 110 judges that the countnumber reaches M, the board recognition camera 17 takes an image of thestorage portion Cc of the storage tape C, the recognition processing isperformed, the suction nozzle 18 is moved by a corrected amount, andthen the pickup operation of the electronic component is performed, asdescribed above. The suction error is a case where the line sensor 109Cor the component recognition camera 14 detects the suction nozzle 18 asholding no electronic component or holding the electronic component withimproper posture.

In a case where the number of sequential times a suction error occurscounted by the counter 109B does not reach M yet, however, the CPU 110judges whether or not a pickup rate is lower than a predetermined value.In detail, in a case where a value calculated by dividing the number oftimes the suction error occurs by the number of times the component ispicked up becomes higher than the predetermined value and a pickup rateis thus reduced, the board recognition camera 17 takes an image of thestorage portion Cc of the storage tape C, the recognition processing isperformed to the image, the suction nozzle 18 is moved by a correctedamount, and then the pickup operation of the electronic component isperformed, as described above.

The described operation is performed in mounting order indicated in themounting data until the mounting data of the next step number does notexist.

The judge and the pickup operation of the electronic component by thesuction nozzle 18 are thus performed.

It is also possible that the CPU 110 divides the length of the storagetape C set on the component feeding unit 6 stored in the RAM 111 by afeeding pitch of the storage tape, recognizes the remaining number ofthe electronic components, stores the number in the RAM 111, and alwaysmonitors the remaining number by subtracting 1 from the remaining numberin the counter after each of the feeding operations, instead ofdetecting the seam by the seam detection device 102. That is, the CPU110, the RAM 111, the counter, and so on form a monitoring device. Thus,when the remaining number reaches a predetermined number, a need forsplicing for connecting the old storage tape to the new storage tape isannounced and the splicing is performed. Then, after the predeterminednumber of electronic components are fed (it is preferable to set thepredetermined number slightly more than need be so that the new storagetape can surely reach the pickup position), the board recognition camera17 takes an image of the storage portion Cc of the storage tape C, therecognition processing is performed, the suction nozzle 18 is moved by acorrected amount, and then the pickup operation of the electroniccomponent is performed, as described above.

It is possible to perform the recognition processing to the storageportion Cc, calculate the shifting amount, and move the suction nozzle18 by correction based on the shifting amount before the componentpickup operation each time when the tape C is fed predetermined times(e.g. three times) as described above when an electronic component is tobe picked up from a predetermined part of the storage tape C that islocated before the connection tape 108A, e.g., from a 20 mm part beforethe connection tape 108A (a part located on the left side of theconnection tape 108A in FIG. 8, that is previously set and stored in theRAM 111 by the operation of the touch panel switch 119B by an operator).In this manner, by performing the recognition processing to the storageportion Cc of the storage tape C and moving the suction nozzle 18 bycorrection based on the shifting amount in a predetermined part of theconnection tape 108A, the suction nozzle 18 can pick up an electroniccomponent from the storage portion Cc without fail to prevent the pickuperror even when the storage tape C located before the connection tape108A is shifted due to the connection tape A.

Although the so-called multifunctional chip mounter is used as anexample of the electronic component mounting apparatus in the abovedescription, the invention is not limited to this and can be alsoapplied to a high speed type chip mounter such as a rotary table type.

The component feeding unit can be mounted on a cart detachably connectedto the body, and the feeder base can be provided on a cart.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has beendisclosed in detail, it will be recognized that variations ormodifications of the disclosed apparatus are possible based on thedisclosure for those skilled in the art and lie within the scope of thepresent invention.

1. An electronic component mounting apparatus comprising: a feeder base;a component feeding unit disposed on the feeder base and advancing astorage tape comprising storage portions containing electroniccomponents therein so that each of the electronic components comes to acomponent pickup position where a suction nozzle is configured to pickup the electronic component fed by the component feeding unit formounting the electronic component on a printed board; a seam detectiondevice provided for the component feeding unit and detecting aconnection tape connecting two storage tapes; a counter counting theadvancement of the storage tape, the counter counting a firstpredetermined number corresponding to the advancement of the storagetape after the connection tape is detected by the seam detection device;a recognition camera taking an image of one of the storage portions ofthe storage tape when the counter counts the first predetermined number;a recognition processing device performing a recognition processing tothe image taken by the recognition camera; and a control deviceadjusting the component pickup position based on a result of therecognition processing of the recognition processing device.
 2. Theelectronic component mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein therecognition camera is configured to take an image of another one of thestorage portions of the storage tape when the counter counts a secondpredetermined number after the counter counts the first predeterminednumber.
 3. The electronic component mounting apparatus of claim 1,wherein the first predetermined number corresponds to the advancement ofthe storage tape from the moment when the connection tape is detected tothe moment when the connection tape comes to the component pickupposition.